U.S. patent application number 10/736303 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for pool/spa heater.
Invention is credited to Owenson, Peter, Uy, Dindo.
Application Number | 20050127197 10/736303 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34653859 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050127197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uy, Dindo ; et al. |
June 16, 2005 |
Pool/spa heater
Abstract
A pool/spa heater having a temperature control portion which is
connectable to an external temperature regulating controller, in
which the temperature control portion has at least one primary
temperature limiting control switch with a first temperature
setpoint, at least one secondary temperature limiting control
switch with a second temperature setpoint, a third switch adapted
for connection with the external temperature regulating controller,
and wherein the second temperature setpoint is higher than a
maximum temperature setting on the external temperature regulating
controller but lower than the first temperature setpoint. The
temperature control portion can further have an on/off switch.
Inventors: |
Uy, Dindo; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; Owenson, Peter; (Sonoma, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUCHANAN INGERSOLL, P.C.
ONE OXFORD CENTRE, 301 GRANT STREET
20TH FLOOR
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Family ID: |
34653859 |
Appl. No.: |
10/736303 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
236/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05D 23/1902 20130101;
F23N 1/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
236/102 |
International
Class: |
F23N 001/08; G05D
023/00; G05D 015/00; G05D 023/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A temperature control portion for pool or spa heater which is
connectable to an external temperature regulating controller, said
temperature control portion comprising: a. at least one primary
temperature limiting control switch having a first temperature
setpoint; b. at least one secondary temperature limiting control
switch having a second temperature setpoint; c. a third switch
adapted for connection with said external temperature regulating
controller; and d. wherein said second temperature setpoint is
higher than a maximum temperature setting on said external
temperature regulating controller and lower than said first
temperature setpoint.
2. The temperature control portion of claim 1 further comprising an
on/off switch.
3. The temperature control portion of claim 1 wherein said second
temperature setpoint is about 106.degree. F.
4. The temperature control portion of claim 1 wherein said at least
one primary temperature limiting control switch further comprises
first and second primary temperature limiting control switches,
said first primary temperature limiting control switch having said
first temperature setpoint, and said second primary temperature
limiting control switch having a third temperature setpoint.
5. The temperature control portion of claim 4 wherein said first
temperature setpoint is 150.degree. F. and said third temperature
setpoint is 135.degree. F.
6. The temperature control portion of claim 5 wherein said second
temperature setpoint is about 106.degree. F.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a heater, or heat pump,
for a pool or spa and, more particularly, to such a heater which
does not require an integral, internal temperature regulating
controller.
[0002] All conventional pool/spa heaters include an internal,
integrated temperature regulating controller. This internal
temperature regulating controller is provided to maintain the
pool/spa water temperature at a user-selected setpoint. However, in
many applications, the pool/spa heater is used in combination with
a pool/spa automation controller system, which also has an
integrated temperature regulating controller. When the pool/spa
automation controller system is used in combination with the
pool/spa heater, the temperature regulating controller of the
pool/spa automation controller system will manage the temperature
regulating control function for the pool or spa. In operation, the
pool/spa automation controller system overrides the integrated
temperature regulating controller of the pool/spa heater. Thus,
when a pool/spa automation controller system is used in combination
with the pool/spa heater, the integrated temperature regulating
controller of the pool/spa heater is rendered redundant, and
unnecessary.
[0003] In addition to the integral temperature regulating
controller, conventional pool/spa heaters also typically include a
number of integrated temperature limiting control switches. These
temperature limiting control switches limit the highest allowable
temperature of the pool/spa water in the event that the temperature
regulating controller malfunctions. For example, if the water
temperature should exceed a maximum temperature setpoint, the
temperature limiting control switches would shut off the heater.
These temperature limiting control switches are necessary to meet
safety and regulatory requirements. The maximum temperature
setpoint of the temperature limiting control switches is
conventionally set much higher than the maximum temperature setting
that can be selected via the temperature regulating controller of
the pool/spa automation system.
[0004] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a pool/spa
heater without an integrated temperature regulating controller in
order to reduce the cost and manufacturing requirements
conventionally associated with pool/spa heaters, where the pool/spa
heater is going to be used in combination with a pool/spa
automation controller system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the invention, a pool/spa heater can be
provided having a temperature control portion which is connectable
to an external temperature regulating controller, such as a
pool/spa automation controller system as described previously, in
which the pool/spa automation controller system manages the water
temperature regulating control functions. The pool/spa heater
according to the invention is provided with a temperature control
portion which does not include an integrated temperature regulating
controller. However, the temperature control portion according to
the invention has at least one primary temperature limiting control
switch with a first temperature setpoint, and at least one
secondary temperature limiting control switch with a second
temperature setpoint. The second temperature setpoint is higher
than a maximum temperature setting on the external temperature
regulating controller but lower than the first temperature
setpoint. The temperature control portion also has a third switch,
such as a fireman's switch, for connecting the temperature control
portion to a pool/spa automation controller system which will
manage the water temperature regulating control functions. The
temperature control portion also has an on/off switch.
[0006] In this manner, the pool/spa heater according to the
invention avoids the need for the conventional integrated
temperature regulating controller that is rendered redundant by the
associated pool/spa automation controller system. Thus, the
pool/spa heater according to the invention has a simplified design,
and is less expensive to produce.
[0007] Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description and the
accompanying drawing figure of a certain presently preferred
embodiment thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0008] A more complete understanding of the invention can be
obtained by considering the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a pool/spa
heater temperature control portion according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram which illustrates an
embodiment of a pool/spa heater temperature control portion 3
according to the invention. As shown, power is supplied from a 120
or 240 VAC power source via wires 11 and 12. Power is applied to
the unit by switching on the on/off switch 13, which can be a
double pole single throw (DPST) switch, at the primary of the
step-down transformer 15. On a conventional pool/spa heater, an
on/off switch is not provided, and the step-down transformer would
instead be hardwired directly to the power source.
[0011] Once power is applied by turning on the switch 13, the
transformer 15 supplies 24 VAC to the ignition control 17 via wires
20, 22 and 24. Assuming that the in-line fuse 28, water pressure
switch 30, fireman switch 32, 106 degree Fahrenheit (.degree. F.)
high temperature limit switch 34, 150.degree. F. high temperature
limit switch 36, 135.degree. F. high temperature limit switch 38,
exhaust temperature switch 40, and fusible link 42 are all
electrically closed, then 24 VAC is also supplied to the TH
terminal 44 at the ignition control 17. Once the ignition control
17 detects this voltage at the TH terminal 44, a blower fan (not
shown) is activated. The blower fan causes a fan pressure switch 46
to close, thereby supplying 24 VAC to the PS terminal 48 at the
ignition control 17. Once the ignition control 17 detects this
voltage at the PS terminal 48, an igniter (not shown) will be
activated. The ignition control 17 then closes an internal switch
50 connected to the TH terminal 44, thereby supplying power to and
opening a gas valve 52. Gas is now introduced to the burners (not
shown) and ignited by the igniter. Once the ignition control
detects the flame (by various means), the igniter is shut off.
[0012] The in-line fuse 28 is used to guard against a short circuit
in the system.
[0013] The water pressure switch 30 closes only when there is water
flowing through the heat exchanger. It is important to have water
flowing through the heat exchanger before the burner fires,
otherwise the heat exchanger will be damaged.
[0014] The fireman switch 32 is where an external temperature
regulating controller, i.e., the temperature regulating controller
of a pool/spa automation controller system (not shown) will be
installed in series with the circuit 3. The external temperature
regulating controller will be an electrically closed circuit
whenever there is a call for heat, i.e., the detected actual water
temperature is less than the user-selected setpoint at the external
temperature regulating controller.
[0015] The 150.degree. F. high temperature limit switch 36 and the
135.degree. F. high temperature limit switch 38 are the primary
temperature limiting control switches as used in conventional
pool/spa heaters, as described previously. According to an
embodiment of the invention, the 106.degree. F. high temperature
limit switch 34 is an additional, secondary temperature limiting
switch that is provided as a precautionary safety measure. The
fixed secondary 106.degree. F. high temperature limit switch 34 has
a setpoint which is higher than the maximum setting on the external
temperature regulating controller (which is conventionally about
104.degree. F.), but lower than the primary, 150.degree. F. and
135.degree. F. temperature limiting control switches 36 and 38. The
fixed secondary 106.degree. F. high temperature limit switch 34
will cause the heater to turn off sooner and at a lower temperature
than it would otherwise in the event of a malfunction of the
external temperature regulating controller.
[0016] The exhaust temperature 40 switch is used to guard against
overheating in the burner chamber, whereas the fusible link 42 is
used to guard against flame roll-out from the burner chamber.
[0017] Therefore, according to the invention, a pool/spa heater can
be provided without the conventional integrated temperature
regulating controller, which is typically rendered redundant by a
pool/spa automation controller. Instead, a temperature control
portion 3 is provided which eliminates redundant circuitry and has
added features, including an additional safety measure in the form
of the fixed secondary 106.degree. F. high temperature limit switch
34, and also the on/off switch 13.
[0018] Although certain embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that various modification to those details could be developed
in light of the overall teaching of the disclosure. Accordingly,
the particular embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be
illustrative only and not limiting to the scope of the invention
which should be awarded the full breadth of the following claims
and any and all embodiments thereof.
* * * * *